Moments | The Good Stuff...

It's been awhile since I posted... things have been crazy and May was relentless. Our little family had a lot happening in our lives - good and bad - and we seem to have come out on the other side with our smiles intact. Making it through especially trying times feels good - it's never easy, sometimes life throws a whole lot at you all at once, and it's a lot of work that sometimes can feel like you're just treading water. But... like I said, our smiles are intact and here are a few of the reasons why: May had us celebrating our 4-year anniversary at Firefly Fibers! The 4-year mark is quite the milestone and this last year has been our busiest yet. I am so proud of our little shop and am so lucky to spend my days working with such wonderful people that constantly inspire me. Many thanks to all of the awesome Firefly Fibers enthusiasts for the last 4 wonderful years and here's to many more!

This weekend was the high school graduation for Beaver Dam and our friends were kind enough to invite us to their son's graduation party. The company was wonderful, we met some great folks, hubby got to play Xbox games with some guys that were *gulp* half his age and didn't die first, and (as an added bonus) there were animals. These are just a few of them:

Not pictured: Frankie the pig, Otis the cat (who slumbers with Frankie), Picasso the angora rabbit, several chickens, and 3 dogs  - all of these animals stole my heart.

Today was also quite a day for "the good stuff". This last Christmas, my father-in-law gifted his 1969 Dodge Charger to hubby. Yeah, kind of amazing, right?! After months of waiting, today was the day it came home with us and it is one beautiful car. Here's hubby driving it on our way home today:

There's sure to be more about this car (and more photos) in the near future, so stay tuned.

Along with this fabulousness, we also launched CustomFit at the shop (more on my first CustomFit sweater is coming soon), I cast off another Journey-along project (there will be a fun giveaway happening this month), and we have some really awesome stuff on the horizon at the shop (that *always* makes me happy).

Cheers and I'll be back soon! I promise...

Holiday Wishes

These last few weeks have been a blur. It's busy at Firefly Fibers year round, but even more so once the weather cools. With the addition of the holiday season, busy is an understatement and it's really been a blur since Thanksgiving. I spent a fair amount of time brainstorming handmade gift ideas - initially I had grand knitting visions and then reality set in and reluctantly, I adjusted. Being that I didn't have a chance to get started on holiday gifts until this last Sunday (yes, 3 days ago and today is Christmas Day), I'm happy to say that I am done and really have enjoyed the last few days at home.

Plans quickly shifted last week from handmade yarn projects to homemade canning projects due to the time constraints - no need to worry, yarn has been assembled into various projects, but I can't divulge details... yet. As for the canning, I went a little cranberry crazy.

I love cranberries! Every year I make cranberry relish in a huge batch when cranberries are in season and freeze for year round enjoyment. I also love the Food In Jars blog and was intrigued when a simple recipe came up last month for Spiced Cranberry Jam. Then, right at the bottom of the post before the recipe was a link to her Pickled Cranberries. After admitting that the gifting plans had to be adjusted, this is what I went back to. And rather than torment myself with having to choose one of the two recipes, I decided both were going on the holiday 'to do' list - in double-batch quantities, of course. 

It felt a little like I was going off the deep end as it was happening, but I couldn't help myself. If one batch was what the recipe called for, it only made 'sense' that I get enough for a double-batch and double-batch I did. After the initial 11 - 12oz bags and a second trip for 3 more, we were set! Really, who wouldn't be set with 10+ lbs of cranberries? I'm now brimming with pride as I see the jars lined up and know I only went a little crazy.

The jam was super easy! After sorting and washing 6 lbs of cranberries, I removed the rind from the lemons and oranges with a veggie peeler, juiced them, added ginger root and let the food processor take care of the 'zesting' for me.Super easy and the finished product is delicious - we enjoyed some last night with cream cheese on crackers!

The pickled cranberries were also easy and I can't wait to try them - they have to set for 24 hours before enjoying to let the flavors do their thing. How am I going to wait that long?!

We finished tying up loose ends last night and we'll hit the road to head north for Christmas with hubby's Grandma this morning. Then Sunday we'll be off to his mom's for a second gathering. Both are sure to be enjoyable and relaxing. I'll report back soon on the feedback on the cranberry concoctions and the other holiday bits I can't reveal quite yet.

Warm holiday wishes to you and yours! Alisa

thankful...

Morning is my favorite part of the day - if I can ease into it, I love it even more and that's how this morning has been. Logan has been fed, Mike is still snoozing (or waking slowly) and I'm enjoying the quiet of my home with a cup of coffee and preparing for a day with family. I have many things to be thankful for, these are just a few: Over the last few years, I've enjoyed beautiful relationships with knitters, crocheters, spinners, etc. My days at Firefly Fibers are brightened with the 'show-and-tell', fiber woes, fiber triumphs, and the general awesomeness of sharing a love of all things fiber. I truly love what I do and I'm lucky to be able to share my passion for color, texture and design as a career. Thank you, my fellow fiber enthusiasts.

Each and every day, I am so very thankful for my wonderful husband that encouraged me to take a leap (a BIG one) to make a dream a reality and open a yarn shop. This amazing opportunity is something that I could never have imagined into reality without Mike/Mr. Firefly/Mr. Yarnista and he still encourages me each and every day and helps in any way that he can. He's also great at grape picking, kraut smushing, grilling and an all around fabulous guy. Thank you, my dear.

There's also my buddy, Logan - he's kind of fabulous, too. At 100+ lbs of sensitive German Shepherd, he's our gentle giant. He's always up for a good game of chase in the backyard, is a great listener and will follow us wherever we go. I'm thankful for him choosing us many years ago at the humane society.

We'll be off soon for a day with our family, great food, smart talking and I'm sure to be doing some knitting.

Be happy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!